PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Jack E Baldwin

Publications and source records attributed to Jack E Baldwin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Stereochemical reassignment of Mehta and Kundu's spiculoic acid a analogue.

A close examination of Mehta and Kundu's synthesis of an analogue of spiculoic acid A revealed discrepancies between their proposed structure and corresponding data. A revised structure is proposed for Mehta and Kundu's analogue after a careful analysis of their key synthetic transformations and published data. [reaction: see text].

Animals↗

Unexpected oxidation of a depsipeptide substrate analogue in crystalline isopenicillin N synthase.

Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) is a non-heme iron(ii)-dependent oxidase that is central to penicillin biosynthesis. Herein, we report mechanistic studies of the IPNS reaction in the crystalline state, using the substrate analogue delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-(3R)-methyl-L-cysteine D-alpha-hydroxyisovaleryl ester (AmCOV) to probe the early stages of the catalytic cycle. The X-ray crystal structure of the anaerobic IPNS:Fe(II):AmCOV complex was solved to 1.40 A resolution, and it reveals several subtle differences in the active site relative to the complex of the enzyme with its natural substrate. The crystalline IPNS:Fe(II):AmCOV complex was then exposed to oxygen gas at high pressure; this brought about reaction to give what appears to be a hydroxymethyl/ene-thiol product. A mechanism for this reaction is proposed. These results offer further insight into the delicate interplay of steric and electronic effects in the IPNS active site and the mechanistic intricacies of this remarkable enzyme.

Binding Sites↗

Unique binding of a non-natural L,L,L-substrate by isopenicillin N synthase.

Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) is a non-haem iron oxidase that catalyses the formation of isopenicillin N from the tripeptide delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine. In this report, we describe the crystal structure of the enzyme with a non-natural L,L,L-tripeptide substrate, delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-L-3,3,3,3',3',3'-hexafluorovaline. This structure reveals a strong binding interaction of the tripeptide within the active site and a unique conformation for the non-natural L,L,L-diastereomer. Taken together, these findings provide a possible rationale for the previously observed inhibitory effects of L,L,L-tripeptide substrates on IPNS activity.

Binding Sites↗

A new and efficient method for o-quinone methide intermediate generation: application to the biomimetic synthesis of the benzopyran derived natural products (+/-)-lucidene and (+/-)-alboatrin.

Lucidene and alboatrin are complex benzopyran derived natural products. A key step in their biogenesis may involve a hetero Diels-Alder cycloaddition between an o-quinone methide intermediate with a simple, or activated tri-substituted olefin. Experimental evidence is provided to support this hypothesis, with the biomimetic synthesis of both (+/-)-lucidene and (+/-)-alboatrin successfully achieved using a new and efficient method for o-quinone methide generation.

Alkenes↗

A novel oxidative rearrangement of 6-methoxypyran-2-ones.

As part of our continuing studies of pyrone-containing natural products, a series 6-methoxypyran-2-ones were synthesized. These were found to react with molecular oxygen at 20 degrees C, and this novel reaction yielded a series of highly functionalized alpha,beta-butenolides. [reaction: see text]

Journal Article↗

Structural studies on the reaction of isopenicillin N synthase with the truncated substrate analogues delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-glycine and delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-alanine.

Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS), a non-heme iron(II)-dependent oxidase, catalyzes conversion of the tripeptide delta-(l-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-l-cysteinyl-d-valine (ACV) to bicyclic isopenicillin N (IPN), concomitant with the reduction of dioxygen to two molecules of water. Incubation of the "truncated"substrate analogues delta-(l-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-l-cysteinyl-glycine (ACG) and delta-(l-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-l-cysteinyl-d-alanine (ACA) with IPNS has previously been shown to afford acyclic products, in which the substrate cysteinyl residue has undergone a two-electron oxidation. We report X-ray crystal structures for the anaerobic IPNS/Fe(II)/ACG and IPNS/Fe(II)/ACA complexes, both in the absence and presence of the dioxygen analogue nitric oxide. The overall protein structures are very similar to those of the corresponding IPNS/Fe(II)/ACV complexes; however, significant differences are apparent in the vicinity of the active site iron. The structure of the IPNS/Fe(II)/ACG complex reveals that the C-terminal carboxylate of this substrate is oriented toward the active site iron atom, apparently hydrogen-bonded to an additional water ligand at the metal; this is a different binding mode to that observed in the IPNS/Fe(II)/ACV complex. ACA binds to the metal in a manner that is intermediate between those observed for ACV and ACG. The addition of NO to these complexes initiates conformational changes such that both the IPNS/Fe(II)/ACG/NO and IPNS/Fe(II)/ACA/NO structures closely resemble the IPNS/Fe(II)/ACV/NO complex. These results further demonstrate the feasibility of metal-centered rearrangements in catalysis by non-heme iron enzymes and provide insight into the delicate balance between hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions and steric effects in the IPNS active site.

Alanine↗

A short total synthesis of aureothin and N-acetylaureothamine.

The total synthesis of the nitrophenyl pyrones, (+/-)-aureothin and (+/-)-N-acetylaureothamine, starting from known 2-ethyl-6-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-4H-pyran-4-one are described. The key steps involved in the synthesis are the construction of the tetrahydrofuran motif using a palladium-catalyzed cycloaddition and the ruthenium-catalyzed cross-metathesis reaction of an alkenyl boronic ester. [reaction: see text]

Acetylation↗

Biomimetic total synthesis of (+)-himbacine.

On treatment with trifluoroacetic acid butenolide 14 undergoes N-Boc deprotection and condensation followed by an iminium ion activated intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition to give the (+)-himbacine precursor 11 on reductive work up. Compound 11 was converted into (+)-himbacine in four synthetic steps. [reaction: see text]

4-Butyrolactone↗

Dimerization of butenolide structures. A biomimetic approach to the dimeric sesquiterpene lactones (+/-)-biatractylolide and (+/-)-biepiasterolide.

The biomimetic synthesis of the bisesquiterpene lactones (+/-)-biatractylolide 1 and (+/-)-biepiasterolide 2 via dimerization of the captodative stabilized radical 8 is reported. Atractylon 7 has also been shown to be a possible intermediate during the biosynthesis of biatractylolide 1, biepiasterolide 2, atractylolide 3, and hydroxyatractylolide 4.

4-Butyrolactone↗

Active-site-mediated elimination of hydrogen fluoride from a fluorinated substrate analogue by isopenicillin N synthase.

Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) is a non-haem iron oxidase that catalyses the formation of bicyclic isopenicillin N from delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV). In this study we report a novel activity for the iron of the IPNS active site, which behaves as a Lewis acid to catalyse the elimination of HF from the fluorinated substrate analogue, delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-beta-fluorovaline (ACbetaFV). X-Ray crystallographic studies of IPNS crystals grown anaerobically with ACbetaFV reveal that the valinyl beta-fluorine is missing from the active site region, and suggest the presence of the unsaturated tripeptide delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-isodehydrovaline in place of substrate ACbetaFV. (19)F NMR studies confirm the release of fluoride from ACbetaFV in the presence of the active IPNS enzyme. These results suggest a new mode of reactivity for the IPNS iron centre, a mechanism of action that has not previously been reported for any of the iron oxidase enzymes.

Anaerobiosis↗